Challenge Week
Already know you want to Take the Challenge? Download our Campus Leader Sourcebook or Participant’s Manual. 
Need a bit more convincing? Read a quick summary of why you should participate and explore some of the information below to get an idea of what it’s really like:
Photos from Past Years
MultiMedia
Video from 2007, An Early Year
Radio Interview with Dr. Shawn Humphrey, 2008
Dave Bruno’s Video of Point Loma’s first Challenge Week, 2009
Past Experiences
Challenge Week made a difference in Katie Mauro’s life:
“I feel like this project has opened up my eyes to the daily struggles of people in developing countries like no other experience ever could and it has made me want to focus my education toward increasing economic growth in developing countries even more than prior to the challenge. I will take my experience of the past 5 days with me for the rest of my life.”
Nicole Halloran wrote:
“I felt ashamed of seeming poor. I kept fighting back the urge to constantly state every 2 seconds “I don’t normally look like this, you know,” …”you know, I don’t normally…” Why?”
Will Hawk reflected on the experience:
“I have been in situations outside of traditional standards of living of an upper-middle-class person before. The difference is that in those situations I could be fully committed to the task. While camping in Algonquin National Park I didn’t have to take a Latin test. While living on a sustainable farm in Indiana I didn’t have to study for my economics quiz. And while observing Ramadan I knew that I was going to have a big meal and comfortable bed to sleep in every night. With this project, you never know…”
Lectures can only go so far in inspiring action. Studying abroad to see poverty first hand is only accessible to those who can afford such an option. Challenge Week is an on campus experience which provides an educational tool that is both effective and available to everyone, and you can fundraise for any cause you like. Whether your passion is access to health care, microfinance, or education you can fundraise for it.
Our preferred microfinance partner is Opportunity International because we believe in their program and 100% of the money raised through TDC will go directly towards life changing loans. Already connected to or working in an organization addressing another issue? Donate to them.
Although it is a fundraiser, more importantly, it can create a passion. The personal transformation and self-realization which Challenge Week can start is amazing. Whether it is about the abundance of resources around us everyday, or the mental and emotional trials created by the uncertainty of poverty, the experience shifts your perspective.
This short glimpse of the complexity of poverty strengthens the passion and urgency felt by participants to work towards the end of poverty starting today.
